Metaproterenol

Metaproterenol is used to prevent and treat wheezing, shortness of breath, and troubled breathing caused by asthma, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and other lung diseases. It relaxes and opens air passages in the lungs, making it easier to breathe.

Metaproterenol comes as tablets and syrup to take by mouth and as a solution to inhale by mouth. It usually is used by oral inhalation every 4 hours to relieve symptoms or 3 to 4 times a day to prevent symptoms or by mouth three or four times a day. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Use metaproterenol exactly as directed. Do not use more or less of it or use it more often than prescribed by your doctor. Metaproterenol controls symptoms of asthma and other lung diseases but does not cure them. Continue to use metaproterenol even if you feel well. Do not stop using metaproterenol without talking to your doctor.

<p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>Metaproterenol may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

<ul>
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tremor</li>
<li>
nervousness</li>
<li>
dizziness</li>
<li>
weakness</li>
<li>
headache</li>
<li>
nausea</li></ul></p> <p></p> <p>If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately:

<ul>
<li>
increased difficulty breathing</li>
<li>
rapid or increased heart rate</li>
<li>
irregular heartbeat</li>
<li>
chest pain or discomfort</li></ul>If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online [at <a href='http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch'>http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch</a>] or by phone [1-800-332-1088].</p>

Before using metaproterenol, tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to metaproterenol or any other drugs. tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription medications you are taking, especially atenolol (Tenormin); carteolol (Cartrol); labetalol (Normodyne, Trandate); metoprolol (Lopressor); nadolol (Corgard); phenelzine (Nardil); propranolol (Inderal); sotalol (Betapace); theophylline (Theo-Dur); timolol (Blocadren); tranylcypromine (Parnate); other medications for asthma, heart disease, or depression. tell your doctor and pharmacist what nonprescription medications and vitamins you are taking, including ephedrine, phenylephrine, phenylpropanolamine, or pseudoephedrine. Many nonprescription products contain these drugs (e.g., diet pills and medications for colds and asthma), so check labels carefully. Do not take any of these medications without talking to your doctor (even if you never had a problem taking them before). tell your doctor if you have or have ever had irregular heartbeat, increased heart rate, glaucoma, heart disease, high blood pressure, an overactive thyroid gland, diabetes, or seizures. if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are using metaproterenol.

In case of overdose, call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. If the victim has collapsed or is not breathing, call local emergency services at 911.